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Posted on May 29, 2014August 20, 2015 by Earths — Leave a comment

Body Balms – Moisturizing Body Balms

We hope that you are enjoying this beautiful weather! Since the weather is becoming a little more consistent and the temperature is on the rise, it’s about that time for the tank tops and shorts! Now, we have to ask, what do you put on your skin to keep it nourished and moisturized? Are you a lotion person or a body balm person?

What are Body Balms?

You do know the difference between lotions and body balms, right? Lotion, of course, moisturizes but it is not as thick or as creamy as a body balm. Lotions are made of oils and water. Body balms are much more dense and contain less water and more oil.

Why People use Body Balms?

One of body balm’s primary purposes is to moisturize skin effectively in a way that lotion cannot moisturize. The lotions you use may contain too much water and may not be giving your skin the level of moisturizing it needs.

Since body balms contain less water, they have enough of the proper oils to nourish the skin. When an individual applies lotion and it takes a good glob or handful of lotion to effectively nourish your skin, then a body balm may be what you need. It takes less than a big glob and can be used on the legs, face, arms, and feet.

Now, lotion is not all bad, but it is more convenient for you and healthier for your skin if you know how much moisturizer to apply. Lotion may not be enough to help you reach smooth, nourished, and moisturized skin. Also, it’s troublesome when you have too much of the lotion in your hands. Have you ever put too much lotion in your hands and looked for someone or something to wipe it on? Confess up!

Not to mention that wasting the lotion is kind of like losing money. Body balms usually come in a jar like ours. That way if you take too much you can just put it back in the jar and close the lid. Also, it is important to be careful when using dense oils to moisturize your skin, especially if you have naturally oily skin. Too much oil can cause break outs. So, use dense moisturizers responsibly.

What are the benefits of Body Balms?

If used appropriately, body balms can have many great effects on the skin. It’s a means of moisturizing your skin without suffocating it. They also give your skin a natural glow and make it more vibrant.

Body balms also come in many different fragrances. Each scent can come with its on benefits based on the ingredients that are used. For instance, here at EE we have three different scents: Lemon Fresh Shea, Calming Spa Seaweed, and Lavender of the Valley.

Before we go into the individual benefits, there are three main shared ingredients that we use in our balms. These ingredients produce the basic benefits of each balm. The three ingredients are sunflower oil, shea butter, and coconut oil. Sunflower oil helps the skin regenerate, reducing scars, improving aged skin, and has vitamins A, D, and E, while Coconut oil prevents the skin from flaking, helps with rashes, and protects against sun damage. Shea butter is a natural moisturizer that soothes the skin and helps protect it from elemental radicals like the wind and sun.

In EE’s Lemon Fresh Shea Body balm, we have other ingredients like lemongrass which wards off infections and fungus. In Calming Spa Seaweed, there are ingredients like seaweed and rosemary mint. Seaweed helps protect and nourish the skin while increasing blood circulation and combating inflammation. Rosemary mint soothes the skin and relieves any itch or irritation. It also is great for nasal and respiratory problems. In Lavender of the Valley, there is lavender which helps you relax and has gentle healing benefits. We invite you to try them and see which one is to your liking.

The EE 411:

As you all know, we encourage you to try things that are good for your health, not just for your skin but your overall wellness. In order to effectively maintain good health, it is important to know what is best for your body.

Body balms are great for the skin, but they must be used wisely and appropriately. Pay attention to where your body prefers deeper moisturizers. If skin on parts of your body produce more oils than others, keep it duly noted. You do not want to over burden your skin with oils.

Also, if you find that some places are more likely to become dry, then it may be the primary spot you want to apply the body balm. If used excessively without proper hygiene, the oils in the body balm could clog the pores. That is why it is important to know how much is too much for your skin and maintain your body’s cleanliness. That way you and your body know and have a proper balance.

Share with Us: Do you use body balms? If so, how and where do you use them?

(This post was brought to you by Earth’s Enrichments. Similar posts can be found by visiting our Blog. More information about our company and products (USDA Certified Organic Soaps, Organic Bath Salts, Organic Sugar Scrubs, Organic Body Balms and Organic Lip Balms) can be found on our Website. Thank you Earth’s Enricher!)

Posted on May 21, 2014August 20, 2015 by Earths — Leave a comment

Sugar Scrub – Revitalizing Sugar Scrubs

Hey Earth’s Enrichers

The countdown has begun! It’s a few more weeks till summer begins! Is your skin ready? Or did you let the harsh winter win over your skin? No worries, Earth’s Enrichers there are three new sugar scrubs to help revitalize, moisturize, cleanse, and bring back your skin’s natural glow. Not to mention, leaving you feeling refreshed and smelling great. Please welcome Calming Spa Seaweed, Lavender of the Valley, and Lemon Fresh Shea sugar scrubs. For those of you who haven’t really used sugar scrubs and have sensitive skin, this week’s blog is for you.

What are Sugar Scrubs and why use them?

Sugar scrubs are a sweet and sensational way to exfoliate. They are cleansers equipped with sugar crystal that are designed to gently exfoliate the skin. Exfoliating is the process before bathing or rinsing that gets rid of all the dead skin. This helps to make your bathing experience a lot more efficient. Dead skin only inhibits the soap from doing its job properly and stops it from deep cleansing. Exfoliating helps remove this barrier of dead skin and allows your bathing experience to be more effective.

What are the benefits of Sugar Scrubs?

Using sugar scrubs effectively helps you remove the dead skin that may otherwise be difficult to wash away. Exfoliating the dead skin helps your soap or cleanser do its job efficiently. The end result of this is glowing, soft, smooth, and refurbished skin.

Sugar Scrubs not only remove dead skin, but also help draw out impurities or toxins in the skin. They can be used on all of the external skin of the body. It allow for a deeper clean that does not chemically put your skin in danger. They moisturize and buffer the skin, restoring its natural glow and smoothness.

How to use them?

Sugar scrub can be applied by rubbing into the skin with your hands, a wash cloth, or for a more effective result, with a hard bathing utensil like loofa or body scrub brush. There is no need to apply an extensive amount of pressure or scrub ferociously. Lightly pressing is sufficient to remove dead skin and clear the way for the soap.

You may use the sugar scrub in your bath or while you are in the shower usually scrubbing in a gentle, circular motion. After you have finished scrubbing, gently rinse the sugar off your skin with your hands or a scrubbing utensil. Then proceed with the rest of your bath.

Depending on your body as we always say knowing your body is the way to keep it healthy it can be used on any external surface and sensitive skin. If you detect any lasting redness, welting, or irritation of any kind, contact a professional. It could be allergies or you may have scrubbed too hard. It’s always important to find out from your doctor.

The EE 411:

Before I continue on to the precautions of using sugar scrubs, we’d like to tell you what exactly is in our sugar scrubs. Since each sugar scrub has its own unique scent, we have boiled; It down to this: certified organic oils, powders, and sugars made from natural, organic elements. Each sugar scrub contains sunflower oil which is great for helping skin regenerate and reducing scars. It has the appropriate amount of Vitamin A, D, and E for your skin. Another ingredient is coconut oil that aids in relieving rashes and irritated skin. It also prevents drying and flaking of the skin.

As for special benefits for specific sugar scrubs, rosemary mint in Calming Spa Seaweed helps to relieve itchy and irritated skin; while also clearing up any nasal or respiratory discomfort. Lemon Fresh Shea’s special ingredients like Lemongrass can help prevent skin infections and fight fungus on the skin. Lavender of the Valley has organic lavender that acts as a great relaxant, remedy for stress, and is an effective cleanser. When you have time, check out all the other benefits of these sugars. Discover which one is your favorite.

There are a lot of benefits in the sugar as well. The certified organic sugar in the sugar scrubs exfoliates the skin and acts as a moisturizer. While it moisturizes, it breaks down any toxins and removes any dead skin. However, there are a few precautions when using sugar scrubs or any scrubs for that matter. Do not use on already irritated skin, this means if your skin is welted and very sensitive (consult your doctor) it may not be prudent to use scrubs on that area. Or on any open wounds. Also, if you have sun burn, do not exfoliate—imagine a carpet burn. Remember, keep what’s good for you in mind.

Share with Us: Do you use sugar scrubs? How do you use them?

Posted on May 15, 2014August 20, 2015 by Earths — Leave a comment

Bath Salts – Relaxing Bath Salts

Hey Earth’s Enrichers

We have healthy and invigorating new treats for you just in time for summer! We would like to introduce you to our Calming Spa Seaweed, Lavender of the Valley, and Lemon Fresh Shea bath salts. For those of you who haven’t really used bath salts, this week’s blog is for you.

What are Bath Salts?

Bath salts are crystallized substances that dissolve in bath water. They are usually scented to enhance your bath experience. It’s like a form of aromatherapy. Bath Salts also have many healthy beneficial properties for your skin.

What are the benefits of Bath Salts?

Aromatherapy can come in many different forms whether it is incense or candles, but bath salts are also another means. Bath salts can come in a variety of scents like Lavender and Lemon. These aromas are chosen based on the intended mood the individual wants to create when bathing. Lavender is an excellent relaxant and if the intention is to create a relaxing bath experience, we recommend Lavender.

Not only does it create a wonderful aroma but that aroma also leaves you smelling great when you leave the bath. It can make your skin feel smooth and soft. This happens because of the natural minerals in salt that cleanse your pores and leave your skin feeling fresh.

Why People use them?

People use bath salts to help them get the spa experience at home. They provide a means of relaxation, aromatherapy, and deep cleansing for your skin. They nourish skin and help break down and demolish the toxins in your pores. Afterwards leaving your skin is left feeling baby smooth, fresh, and smelling great!

We recommend you give Bath Salts a try and see how you like them. If you are ever in need of a relaxing experience and don’t have time to go to the spa, try Calming Spa Seaweed Bath Salts. Or if you have had a rough day and don’t feel like dealing with much else, run a hot bath and drop in some Lavender of the Valley Bath Salts. They will relax you and erase the stress of your day. Also, the hotter humid weather is upon us and after a long hot and sweaty day, try Lemon Fresh Shea. Each of these fragrances will help you skin glow and feel luxurious.

The EE 411:

Bath salts help clean and remove impurities of the skin, while leaving your skin feeling silky smooth and regenerated. Bath Salts contain minerals and nutrients that aid in creating that smooth, fresh feeling. When selecting bath salts, look for ones that don’t contain unnatural preservatives or chemicals. Look for labels that read organic or have the USDA logo on it. Also, do your research. Don’t bathe with them unless you know what’s in it. Our bath salts contain premium sea salts and certified organic oils and organic powders.

As far as the benefits of natural minerals here’s a quick fact for you. It may also help you choose your next vacation spot. As you know by now, sea salts have natural minerals that help make the skin healthy. There are minerals similar to this that can be found in natural baths like the Japanese Onsen, which also leave your body feeling relaxed and satisfied.

These baths are usually created and heated by natural hot springs. Bathing in these hot springs introduces your body to nutrients and minerals that can also help keep your skin healthy, and help with joint pain. The heat of the spring can help alleviate (not cure) stiffness and aches. It’s a natural way of pain relief.

This is an exciting bathing experience. It provides skin benefits that are similar to the skin benefits in the bath salts minerals. If you have free time, look up this experience and do your own research. You may find out it’s something you want to try.

Share with Us: What do you do to make your bathing experience relaxing and stress free?

Posted on May 8, 2014August 7, 2015 by Earths — Leave a comment

Health Lifestyle – Daily Health: Sunlight

Hey Earth’s Enrichers

How are your everyday health activities coming along? Have you been getting enough water, food & nourishment, and physical activity? It’s harder than it sounds, huh? Well, we have one more ingredient to healthy living. This ingredient will complete your basic daily health prescription.

Your body requires certain things to help it get through the day and maintain a balance of good health. Without these things, it could produce small signs which are messages or SOS signals, if you will, from your body saying it needs them. So your body’s basic needs boils down to sleep, food or nourishment, physical activity, sun, and water. This week our topic will be sunlight.

The sun is a very important factor in your daily life, even on rainy days. It provides us with key nutrients that are great for our everyday health. These nutrients come from the UVB rays that come from the sun. These rays are present even when you cannot physically see the sun.

The sun is our primary source of Vitamin D. It is not the sun directly that makes the Vitamin D for us. It is our body’s reaction with the UVB rays. Vitamin D helps regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorous into the body. It also helps regulate the immune system. Another reason why Vitamin D is so important is for bone development. It helps build strong bones and teeth, and helps osteoporosis or osteomalacia.

Another aspect of sunlight is your mood. Some researchers have discovered that sunlight can brighten your day. With the reduction of sunlight, a person can develop anxiety, depression, stress, and low energy. When an individual retains the right amount of sun or vitamin D3 it helps reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.

Also, being in the sun feels great! It’s spring time, finally, turning into summertime. You will have plenty of opportunities to be in the sunlight! It is important, however, to be careful. Safety is always first. Make sure you know how much sun your skin can handle and find a sunscreen that is good enough for you. Also, if you are having a problem absorbing Vitamin D, see your doctor. A professional can help you figure out what is best for your body.

The EE 411:

Environmental factors that can impede Vitamin D absorption are:

Incorrect use of sunscreen
Pollution
Longer periods spent inside
Also, not eating enough foods with Vitamin D

Ways to get some sun/Vitamin D are:

When you are inside, find a window and sit by it. Get some sun by any means necessary.
Walk for a little while outside, whether it’s to get lunch or walk the dog.
Use sunscreen wisely, that protects from harmful UV rays, while still allowing you to have the nutrients necessary.
Having trouble, ask a professional for advice and/or take a vacation at the beach. 🙂

Share with Us: What is your favorite way or means of getting some sun?

Posted on April 30, 2014August 7, 2015 by Earths — Leave a comment

Healthy Lifestyle – Daily Health: Physical Activity

Dear Earth’s Enrichers

Yes, we said it—physical activity! Do you know what it is? Some of you are thinking exercise. A full work out for a certain amount of time, which can target certain areas of the body. Relax—this is not what we mean; although setting aside time during your week to exercise is an extra plus.

Physical activity is incorporating exercise-like activities into your every day schedule. For instance, biking to and from work. Or if you catch the bus and there is some walking involved, power walk the little distance you have to go. Even something as simple as maintaining your posture while you sit at work can be a part of daily physical activity.

These modern times come with every convenience. When you go to the mall or market there is always the option of parking close to your destination so you don’t have to walk far. Leave those close up parking spots for individuals that need them! Take a parking lot challenge and park farther away from the door, that way you incorporate extra activity in your day.

If you drive to work and you happen to be within good time, find a parking space that is just out of the way. Do something new for your body! When working out or exercising, it is important not to let your body get too comfortable with the work out. The same applies for physical activity- switch it up.

If you have a job that requires you to sit on a daily basis, it is important for you to look after your health. If you find yourself getting tired or your back is hurting, stand up and do some stretches. You know a little in-office yoga. Not only is it good for your muscles and joints, but it helps oxygen flow through the body. This helps to refresh and energize it.

Also, when sitting your posture is important. Good posture can help prevent tension in your back and lower back muscles. It is also great for your core/abs. Having bad posture means you do not use your core strength appropriately. Your abs and core help maintain your posture and utilizing those abs actually can help you burn calories. How do you like them apples?

All in all, give your body something physically new to look forward to in a day. If you usually walk to work, put a little pep in your step or bike there. Also, stretch constantly throughout the day; it makes you feel better. Work on your core while sitting in the office or during a meeting. Little tips like these help increase your body’s health and fitness over time.

The EE 411: Physical Activities

When in the office:

Stretch
Occasionally stand while you’re working
Bring a yoga ball with you to work to sit on instead of your chair
While sitting, stretch one leg and then the other

At the mall:

Instead of the escalator take the stairs (same goes with the elevator)
Power walk between stores. (Don’t do it to the point where you look silly J)
Park farther away than the door.
Walk around the mall for fun

On the commute:

If you can walk or ride a bike please do so
During your lunch break, walk somewhere healthy

At home:

Stretch while watching TV
Instead of sitting in chairs sit on the Yoga ball
Instead of letting the dog out, take him/her for a walk.
Play with your children outside

There are many things you could do to incorporate physical activity into your daily life. There is a way of doing it so that it does not interfere with your day. These were just a few suggestions. Know what your body needs and look up or chose physical activity that works best for you.

Share with Us: What kind of physical activity do you do daily?

Posted on April 17, 2014August 20, 2015 by Earths — Leave a comment

Healthy Lifestyle – Daily Heath: Food and Nourishment

Dear Earth’s Enrichers

Imagine your alarm clock goes off, you snooze it, and about 20 minutes later you are late for work! Your supposedly calm morning routine is completely compromised! Now, you have to get up, and get yourself together. For those of you who have kids, that means waking them up, getting them ready, preparing their breakfast, grabbing everything they need. By the time you get them to school or yourself to work, you have not eaten. Did you grab anything along the way? Nope!

The first meeting of your day begins, your coworker addresses you and in a return greeting your stomach answers with a grumble. In a situation like this, you have two options: (1) find a quick snack or (2) wait for lunch. When you can’t find a snack, you wait for lunch. Then what if something comes up for lunch like you forgot to bring it and you left your wallet at home. What’s next, dinner?

The common knowledge about meals is that there should at least be three: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is a convenient way to split up the meals you are supposed to eat in a day. You know, once in the morning, once at noon or in the afternoon, and then again in the evening. It’s an even three way split; however, due to some individuals’ schedules, this may be a hard thing to do.

If all else fails, the most important meal of the day really is breakfast. Think of it this way, in that earlier scenario, if the individual had grabbed one or two things for breakfast, they wouldn’t have to wait for lunch or scavenge for a snack. But what if you are in a hurry? Well, hide a snack stow it away. Place one in your glove department, or have some at work just in case you forget. It can always come in handy.

Another aspect of food and nourishment you should consider, over the long term, is the food groups you are consuming. Did you know there is an average serving of each food group you are supposed to have in a day? Can you imagine how great you would feel?

Eating the right amounts of food and incorporating the appropriate food groups into your diet can increase productivity. It can boost energy, which is why the body consumes carbohydrates. It increases brain function because the brain uses fats or fatty acids to help it work. Proteins help rebuild and support muscle growth and recovery after working out.

Eating and preparing the appropriate amount for each foods category helps your body naturally create those elements you need. Finding natural foods, without GMO’s or artificial chemical enhancers makes for better and healthier nutrition. Supplements such as pills or vitamins are not always the best way to get these nutritional factors.

If you are having trouble getting the appropriate nutrition, see a professional and if they prescribe supplements use with impeccable adherence to the instructions given to you by the doctor. Remember, too much of a good thing can be negative. If you over use vitamins or supplements, you could end up poisoning the body or overworking a major body system. It is very important that you know your body and get it what it needs and deserves.

The EE 411: Food and Nourishment Tips

ChooseMyPlate is a great website that can help you plan your meals so that you can incorporate the correct food groups and understand the importance of them.

At the top of the website there are several tabs you can choose from, from MyPlate to Healthy Eating Tips. When you select “MyPlate” it gives you a list of food groups:

Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Proteins
Dairy
Oils

When you select one of the food groups there are at least six questions that sort the appropriate information. Selecting the link “How much is needed?” will give you a brief description and provide a link to the nutritional contents of the food in each group.

This websites also gives a list of what different types of food are a part of that category. This will provide you with a variety of options, so you don’t get bored with the same foods.

As for some short-term tips:

Eating at least three times a day is ideal
Snacking all day is not a problem just pick the healthier choices
Always eat breakfast
Stow away snacks just in case you forget or miss a meal
Eat your vegetables *you know who you are*
Incorporate the different food groups into your meals
Check out what your ideal plat should look like

Share with Us: Identify your least favorite food group. How can you improve your consumptions of this food group?

Posted on April 9, 2014August 20, 2015 by Earths — Leave a comment

Healthy Lifestyle – Daily Health: Sleep

Dear Earth’s Enrichers

Your body requires certain things to help it get through the day and maintain a balance of good health. Without these things, it could produce small signs, which are messages or SOS signals, if you will, from your body saying it needs them.

So your body’s basic needs boil down to sleep, food or nourishment, physical activity, sun, and water. Of course, oxygen or being able to breathe is one of them, but I think you all already have that down. This week our topic will be sleep.

Sleep is one of the most important ways to gather energy to help you face the challenges of your day. If you don’t sleep well, how do you feel when the alarm clock goes off? We know, you feel like picking that thing up and tossing it across the room. A restless night or not enough sleep could leave you cranky, lethargic, and most of all not ready for your day.

We also know that it is not easy getting a good relaxing night’s sleep especially if you are a student, a business person, or parent. It gets hard to find the time to decompress before bed. If you’re still reeling about what Johnny did at work this morning, you’re probably not going to sleep well.

The saying, “don’t go to bed angry” should be one written on your bed’s headboard. Find a way to relax before going to sleep, create a plan and back-up plan to get the work done or have the kids in bed. An adult individual should have at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. The most popular way to detox before sleeping is a bath or shower. Something semi-long and with your favorite scent to ease the pressures of the day.

Another reason why sleep is so important is because it can affect your health, not just your lifestyle. Lack of sleep can stress out your body physically. Stress to a constant and extreme degree can aid in factors like anxiety attacks, hypertension, chest pains, and Infarction (heart attack). Also, sleep deprivation during daily activities could lead bad health decisions in your daily activities. This could not just effect your health but the health of others around you.

Sleep deprivation in daily activities could increase the risks of obesity. Believe it or not, sleep helps you regulate weight! I bet you didn’t know that. It helps keep your body balanced. Insufficient sleep could lead to an increase in the amount you eat and a greater BMI (or body mass index).

Also, being extremely tired and sleepy while driving could be very dangerous to you and others around you. You could become drowsy, impatient, and non-observant of the drivers/pedestrians around you. There is a term for this called drowsy driving. If you are too exhausted to drive, don’t be afraid to give yourself those extra minutes to rest up or wake yourself up.

Question for you all, when you’re sleepy to the point of no return are you happy? You kind of don’t want to be bothered, which means you aren’t the most cheery of people. Too much exhaustion and extreme sleepiness on a constant basis can lead to things like depression or substance abuse. For instance, when you are having trouble sleeping, the bath didn’t work, and you have a choice between a pill or sleepy time tea—GO FOR THE SLEEPY TIME TEA! The last thing you want is to depend on a pill to get you to sleep. Besides there could be side effects.

There are plenty of reasons why sleep is so important. Try your best to get a good night’s rest. We know that lifestyle (being a student, business person, parent, etc) can play a major role in one’s ability to relax before sleeping. If you are having trouble and you have tried all the other natural options, then consult an expert like your doctor. As always, know your body and do what is best for you.

The EE 411:

Benefits of Sleep

Prepares you for daily activities
Regulates your weight
Helps you stay organized
Helps you control your emotions
Reduces stress
Helps your performance
Helps your heart
Improves memory
Can positively impact life expectancy –of course longevity depends on other factors as well
Aids in repelling depression

Sleep Guidelines for Different Age Groups

Newborns 11-18 hours
Infants 14-15 hours
Toddlers 12-14 hours
Preschoolers 11-13 hours
5-10 year olds 10-11 hours
Teens 8.5-9.5 hours
Adults 7-9 hours

Tips for Better sleep

Aromatherapy (Lavender, Chamomile, etc.)
Herbal teas (Chamomile, Lavender, Sleepy Time)
Relaxing/ Baths
Meditation before bed (like a light yoga)
Gentle music
Your favorite pajamas or sleep wear ^-^

Share with Us: What helps you get to sleep at night?

Posted on April 3, 2014August 7, 2015 by Earths — Leave a comment

Healthy Lifestyle – The Necessities of Water

Dear Earth’s Enrichers

There are a few of you out there that when you think about water, just a plain glass of water, you cringe. Then there are those who think about it and find the thought refreshing. We can understand that those of you who don’t like just plain water, might find it bland and unexciting. However, even though that is one con, the benefits of water definitely out weigh it.

Our bodies are made up of about 70% water. This keeps our body balanced and moist so we don’t dry out. It is a primary element in cells and helps them communicate with each other. Keeping your body hydrated properly helps your cells function. An individual should be drinking about eight cups of water a day, but this also depends on different factors.

These factors depend on how physically active a person is and how much they sweat, the amount of heat an individual is exposed to on a daily basis, the amount of soft drinks that person consumes, and also the amount of caffeine they ingest. Under these conditions, eight cups a day may need to be increased.

For instance, a person who drinks a lot of coffee may have to urinate more than average and thus waste a lot of their body’s water supply. This wasted supply must be replenished. Exercise, depending on intensity, also uses up the body’s water storage. Water is important during exercising because it keeps you from dehydrating when you sweat.

There are signs that your body will give you to let you know that you aren’t drinking enough water or getting hydrated. A sign of not drinking enough water can be seen in the color of your urine, it generally should be a pale yellow. If it is a dark yellow, you should go buy a really big, fancy water bottle because you are not drinking enough water.

Signs of dehydration or thirstiness are pretty easy to remember and you probably have noticed them once or twice. A sign of being thirsty is drying of the mouth, which usually fixes right up with a quick swig of refreshing water. Some signs of dehydration are fainting, confusion, dry mouth or swollen tongue, weakness, dizziness, and being sluggish. If a person experiences these symptoms and is dehydrated do not introduce excessive amounts of water, and seek medical attention from a professional.

How to keep your body from getting to that point of dehydration…keep yourself hydrated! Keep a bottle of water with you at all times. Even when it is cold, you can get dehydrated. We don’t recommending gulping down eight cups all at once; that is just the recommended doses throughout a day. Know your body, when you feel your mouth getting dry or you start to develop a headache, take a few sips. It could do you some good. Listen to your body.

The EE 411:

For those of you that are not the biggest fans of water, there are other ways to get your daily intake of water, although, a cup of water is better.

Fruits- These are some examples of fruits that are highest on the list to contain the most water:

Watermelon is about 90% water
Oranges
Grapefruit
Cantaloupes
Honeydew

Vegetables– these do not contain as much water as the fruits do.

Celery
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Green peppers
Romaine lettuce

Other foods/drinks– these foods have water in them as well

Oatmeal
Yogurt
Soup
Smoothies
Sports drinks
Flavored water

There are some benefits of staying hydrated:

Balances body fluids
Keeps calories in check
Fuels muscles
Keeps skin looking good and refreshed
Helps your kidneys sort through waste
Promotes normal bowel functions
Boosts energy helping with fatigue
Filters out toxins
Improves immune system
Helps body stave off cramps and sprains

Share with Us: After reading this, for those of you who disliked water, do you feel better about? Did it help you find new options? How about those of you who have always been fans of water?

Posted on March 27, 2014August 20, 2015 by Earths — Leave a comment

Healthy Lifestyle – Preservatives: Facts & Fiction

Dear Earth’s Enrichers

What exactly keeps our foods and hygiene products from going bad too soon? What keeps what you buy from decomposing? There are preservatives in your food, hygiene products, and medicine that keep them fresh until the day they expire. Preservatives come in natural and synthetic forms, which means they are not all so bad for you.

Preservatives both natural and synthetic keep your products from falling victim to mold and bacteria that will cause them to decompose. Natural preservatives like salt and honey are actually produced in nature. Natural preservatives are not tampered with by outside agents like chemicals.

Synthetic preservatives are not natural, although some can be created with natural ingredients and chemical substitutes. These man-made preservatives are and designed to preserve and they fulfill their purpose well. However, sometimes these kinds of preservatives can have adverse effects on the health.

For instance, food preservatives like MSG (or Monosodium Glumate) can cause headaches, flushing, and other symptoms for those who are allergic to it. In hygiene or skin care products, there are some chemical preservatives like sulfates and parabens that also have adverse health effects. As an example, sulfates are used in cleaning agents and also used in hygiene products like shampoo. They have a tendency to dry out the skin and cause irritation.

It is recommended if you have sensitive skin that you try to avoid chemical/synthetic preservatives. There are three main reasons why preservatives are used: to improve freshness, taste, and quality. They are not always made with the consumer’s health in mind. Learn your body and listen to it. Pay attention to its signals, it will tell you what it does and does not like.

The EE 411: Some Facts and Fiction

Preservative Facts:
- There are natural preservatives!
- Yes, there are adverse health effects with artificial preservatives (especially if you are allergic to them).
- The FDA regulates both natural and artificial preservatives.
- Antioxidants (sulfites, vitamin C, and E) are forms of preservatives.
- You can overuse products with preservatives (too much is never good).
- Pickling is a form of preserving, like salting. Vinegar is another natural preservative.
- High fructose corn syrup should be ingested responsibly.
Preservative Fiction:
- All preservatives are chemically made.
- Natural preservatives perform the same as synthetic chemicals.
- All bacteria is bad and must be eliminated.
- Preservatives are all safe without adverse health effects.
- Using products with artificial preservatives responsibly can have the same adverse health effects as using them irresponsibly.
- Artificial preservatives all have the same adverse health effects.

Share with Us: What other kinds of natural preservatives do you know about? Have you used any?

Posted on March 11, 2014August 7, 2015 by Earths — Leave a comment

Ear Health

Dear Earth’s Enrichers

Your senses are all very important: seeing, tasting, touching, smelling, and hearing! But for now, we’re going to focus on your ears which help you enjoy music, pay attention to your surroundings, consume information at work, and aid in many other aspects of life. Lots of things happen to your ears in a day. They are sometimes ignored, scratched, and get headphones shoved into them. Ears are sometimes so unappreciated. So, here’s to your ears and how to take care of them!

Let’s start with answering one of the biggest questions about ears: cotton swabs or no cotton swabs? It is important to understand that (say this out loud) ear wax is good! Ear wax is the ear’s way of protecting itself. To clean it all out is actually contributing to possible injury to your ear.

Ear wax acts as a natural antibiotic and water proofing agent. It keeps the water and germs out and away from your ear drum. Clearing out too much of it heightens the chances for an ear infection. Another thing you should know before we answer the big question is where exactly your ear drum is.

Objects are closer than they appear; your ear drum is close to the outside of your ear. This makes puncturing of necessary parts of your ear more likely than you think. Lastly, the ear canal, if cleaned improperly, can actually back up with ear wax and cause damage or impair hearing. Gives a whole new meaning to folks telling you to clean your ears when you couldn’t hear, remember that?

So here’s the moment you have all been waiting for! Evidence shows that cleaning your ears with a cotton swab may not be the best idea after all. Cotton swabs make the chance of accidentally puncturing your ear drum greater since it’s difficult to know how far you are reaching in.

When cleaning with cotton swabs there is a chance you could end up pushing the ear wax into the ear canals. This could lead to impacting them and then it would require professional help to de-compact them.

What is recommended to clean, when it comes to ears, is the excess ear wax. Excess ear wax, or overflow, can cause infections. Nothing smaller than a finger should generally go in your ear, and you shouldn’t need anything larger than that to clean off the excess wax. For more information on how to clean your ears, ask your doctor or medical professional; that way she or he can give you a method that best works for your ears.

The EE 411: Things to Know about Ears

Avoid cotton swabs
Generally nothing smaller than your finger should enter your ear
Itching inside the ear can mean over cleaning; consult an expert before irritation worsens
Ear wax is good! It helps keep your ears safe.
Excess ear wax could cause infection.

Here’s a fun fact: when you eat something sour or something extremely sweet there is a sensation that travels through the jaw and ends toward the ear, have you ever felt it? It happens because there is a branch of nerves that travels from your taste buds to mid-ear called the Chorda Tympani.